Rack bush and steering system

ABSTRACT

A rack bush for supporting a rack shaft in a rack-and-pinion steering system so that the rack shaft slides in an axial direction thereof includes a teeth side support portion and a back side support portion. Rack teeth are formed in a first area of an outer circumferential surface of the rack shaft. The teeth side support portion contacts a second area of the outer circumferential surface to support the rack shaft from a teeth side where the rack teeth are formed. The second area lies adjacent to the first area in the axial direction. The back side support portion contacts a third area of the outer circumferential surface to support the rack shaft from a back side other than the teeth side. The third area is positioned out of the first area in a circumferential direction around an axis of the rack shaft.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application (No.2014-226252) filed on Nov. 6, 2014, the contents of which areincorporated herein by way of reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a rack bush and a rack-and-pinionsteering system including the rack bush.

A steering system described in Patent Literature 1 below includes a rackshaft in which a first rack and a second rack are aligned in an axialdirection. A first pinion on a first pinion shaft which transmits asteering assisting force meshes with the first rack, and a second pinionon a second pinion shaft which transits a manual steering force mesheswith the second rack.

A first rack bush is disposed at a first end portion of the rack shaft,and a second rack bush is disposed between the first rack and the secondrack of the rack shaft. The first rack bush and the second rack busheach include an annular portion which surrounds the whole circumferenceof the rack shaft and a portion having an arc-shaped section whichextends in an axial direction from the annular portion. An elasticprojecting portion formed on an inner circumference of the portionhaving the arc-shaped section is in contact with a back portion on anouter circumferential surface of the rack shaft where the first rack andthe second rack are not formed. This enables the first rack bush and thesecond rack bush to support the rack shaft so as to slide in the axialdirection.

[Patent Literature 1] JP-A-2014-84002

SUMMARY

The invention has been made in view of the background of theconventional steering system and an object thereof is to provide a rackbush which can restrict the generation of a striking sound on a side ofa rack shaft where rack teeth are formed and a steering system whichincludes this rack bush.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a rackbush, for supporting a rack shaft equipped in a rack-and-pinion steeringsystem so that the rack shaft slides in an axial direction of the rackshaft, rack teeth being formed in a first area of an outercircumferential surface of the rack shaft, the rack bush comprising:

-   -   a teeth side support portion configured to bring into contact        with a second area of the outer circumferential surface to        support the rack shaft from a teeth side where the rack teeth        are formed, the second area lying adjacent to the first area in        the axial direction, and    -   a back side support portion configured to bring into contact        with a third area of the outer circumferential surface to        support the rack shaft from a back side which is a side other        than the teeth side, the third area lying in a position out of        the first area in a circumferential direction around an axis of        the rack shaft.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the rack bushaccording to the first aspect of the invention, the teeth side of therack shaft may be formed constitutes a range which coincides with thefirst area in the circumferential direction.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the rack bush accordingto the first or second aspect of the invention, the rack bush may havean inner circumferential surface configured to fit on the outercircumferential surface of the rack shaft, and the rack bush may includerelief portions which are provided on the inner circumferential surfacein positions which coincide with both end portions of the first area inthe circumferential direction and which sink so as to be separated awayfrom the end portions.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided arack-and-pinion steering system comprising: a pinion shaft having pinionteeth; a rack shaft formed with rack teeth which mesh with the pinionteeth; and the rack bush.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of asteering system of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of asteering system of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a main part of the steeringsystem.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a main part of a rack shaft and arack bush.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along a line A-A and viewed in adirection indicated by arrows A in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLIFIED EMBODIMENTS

In the steering system of Patent Literature 1 above, the first rack bushand the second rack bush are in contact with a portion on a back side onthe outer circumferential portion of the rack shaft but are not incontact with the portions on the side of the rack shaft where the rackteeth are formed such as the first rack and the second rack.Consequently, although the rack shaft is restricted from moving on theback side, the rack shaft is not restricted from moving on the side ofthe rack shaft where the rack teeth are formed. Because of this, thereare fears that a striking sound is generated as a result of the rackshaft approaching the first pinion shaft and the second pinion shaftwhereby the portions on the side of the rack shaft where the rack teethare formed strike the pinion shafts or the inner circumferential surfaceof the housing which accommodates the rack shaft.

The invention has been made in view of the background of theconventional steering system and an object thereof is to provide a rackbush which can restrict the generation of a striking sound on a side ofa rack shaft where rack teeth are formed and a steering system whichincludes this rack bush.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail byreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of asteering system 1 of an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG.1, the steering system 1 includes mainly a steering member 2 such as asteering wheel, a steering shaft 3, a first universal joint 4, anintermediate shaft 5, a second universal joint 6, a pinion shaft 7, arack shaft 8, a housing 9, and rack bushes 10.

The steering shaft 3 is connected to the steering member 2. The steeringshaft 3 and the intermediate shaft 5 are connected together via thefirst universal joint 4. The intermediate shaft 5 and the pinion shaft 7are connected together via the second universal joint 6.

The pinion shaft 7 is formed of metal. Pinion teeth 11 are provided onan outer circumferential surface of an opposite end portion of thepinion shaft 7 to the end portion where the second universal joint 6 isconnected.

The rack shaft 8 is formed of metal and is formed substantially into acylindrical shape having an axis J which extends in a vehicle's widthdirection of a body (not shown) on which the steering system 1 isprovided. The axis J passes through a center of a circular cross sectionof the rack shaft 8. The vehicle's width direction is a left-to-rightdirection in FIG. 1 and is also an axial direction X of the rack shaft8. In the following description, a circumferential direction around theaxis J will also be referred to as a “circumferential direction Y.”

Rack teeth 12 are formed only on a first area 81 which is one portion ona circumferential surface 8A of the rack shaft 8 in the circumferentialdirection Y and which is a halfway portion of the rack shaft 8 in theaxial direction X. The pinion shaft 7 is disposed in a direction (anup-to-down direction in FIG. 1) which intersects the rack shaft 8 whichextends in the axial direction X, and the pinion teeth 11 on the pinionshaft 7 mesh with the rack teeth 12 on the rack shaft 8. The pinionshaft 7 and the rack shaft 8 make up a rack-and-pinion mechanism 13.Because of this, this steering system 1 is called a rack-and-pinionsteering system.

The housing 9 is a longitudinal hollow cylinder which is made of metalsuch as aluminum and which extends along the axial direction X. Thehousing 9 is fixed to the body. The rack shaft 8 is accommodated in thehousing 9 and can reciprocate along the axial direction X in this state.The portion of the pinion shaft 7 where the pinion teeth 11 are formedis accommodated in the housing 9 between end portions thereof in theaxial direction X. Of both the end portions of the housing 9, a firstend portion 14, which constitutes a left end portion in FIG. 1, liesrelatively near the pinion shaft 7, and a second end portion 15, whichconstitutes a right end portion in FIG. 1, lies relatively far from thepinion shaft 7.

In the housing 9, two rack bushes 10 are provided in such a way as tohold the pinion shaft 7 therebetween in the axial direction X. Each rackbush 10 is an annular member which fits on the rack shaft 8, and therack bushes 10 are fixed individually to the first end portion 14 andthe second end portion 15 of the housing 9. The rack shaft 8 issupported by these rack bushes 10 so as to slide on the rack bushes 10in the axial direction X.

Both end portions of the rack shaft 8 accommodated in the housing 9 inthe axial direction X project outwards from both ends of the housing 9,and a tie-rod 16 is connected to each end portion of the rack shaft 8.Each tie-rod 16 is connected to a road wheel 19 via a joint 17 and aknuckle arm 18.

When the steering member 2 is turned by the driver to rotate thesteering shaft 3, the rotation is converted to a linear or straight linemotion of the rack shaft 8 along the axial direction X by therack-and-pinion mechanism 13. This turns the road wheels 19.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of asteering system 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. Asto the steering system 1, in addition to the single pinion type whichhas the single pinion shaft 7 as shown in FIG. 1, there exists a dualpinion type which has two pinion shafts 7 as shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2,like reference numerals will be given to like members to those describedheretofore and the description thereof will be omitted here.

In the steering system 1 in FIG. 2, of two pinion shafts 7, one is afirst pinion shaft 7A which is connected to an intermediate shaft 5 viaa second universal joint 6 as described above, and the other is a secondpinion shaft 7B which is separate from the first pinion shaft 7A.

In a rack shaft 8, two first areas 81 where rack teeth 12 are formedexist at two portions which are aligned in an axial direction Xaccording to the number of pinion shafts 7. Of the two first areas 81,the rack teeth 12 of one first area 81A mesh with pinion teeth 11 of thefirst pinion shaft 7A, and the rack teeth 12 of the other first area 81Bmesh with pinion teeth 11 of the second pinion shaft 7B.

In this embodiment, in total, three rack bushes 10 like the rack bushes10 described in the previous embodiment are provided in a housing 9 insuch a way as to, for example, hold the individual first areas 81 in theaxial direction X. Namely, the two rack bushes 10 are providedindividually at a first end portion 14 and a second end portion 15 ofthe housing 9, and the other rack bush 10 is provided in a positionlying between the first area 81A and the first area 81B. The rack bushes10 each fit on the rack shaft 8 to support the rack shaft 8 so as toslide in the axial direction X.

In relation to the second pinion shaft 7B, the steering system 1includes a steering assist mechanism 23. The steering assist mechanism23 includes an electric motor 24 which generates a steering assistingforce, and a speed reducing mechanism 25 which decelerates a rotationaloutput of the electric motor 24 and transmits it to the second pinionshaft 7B.

The electric motor 24 includes a motor housing 26 which is fixed to thebody and a rotational shaft 27 which functions as an output shaft. Thespeed reducing mechanism 25 includes a drive gear 29 such as a wormshaft which is connected to the rotational shaft 27 via a joint 28 so asto transmit torque and a driven gear 30 such as a worm wheel which isconnected so as to rotate together with the second pinion shaft 7B whilemeshing with the drive gear 29.

The steering system 1 includes further a torque sensor 31 which detectssteering torque exerted on a steering member 2 by the driver and an ECU(Electronic Control Unit) 32 to which the results of a torque detectionby the torque sensor 31 are given. The ECU 32 controls to drive theelectric motor 24 via a drive circuit incorporated therein based on theresults of the torque detection and the results of a vehicle speeddetection given by a vehicle speed sensor (not shown). The outputrotation of the electric motor 24 is decelerated via the speed reducingmechanism 25 to be transmitted to the second pinion shaft 7B, where therotational output of the electric motor 24 is converted to a straightline motion of the rack shaft 8. This assists in turning the steeringmember 2.

Next, the rack shaft 8, the housing 9 and the rack bushes 10 will bedescribed in detail.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken along the vicinity of thefirst end portion 14 of the housing 9 of the steering system 1 in theaxial direction X. As a matter of convenience in description, nohatching is given to the pinion shaft 7 and the rack shaft 8 in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, the housing 9 is the hollow cylinder as has beendescribed before, and a hollow portion 40 is formed into a cylinderhaving a center line or an axis which extends along the axial directionX. Both ends of the hollow portion 40 in the axial direction X areopened as openings 41 at the first end portion 14 and the second endportion 15 and are exposed to the outside of the housing 9. The openings41 are round holes which are larger in diameter than the rack shaft 8.

An inner circumferential surface 42 of the housing 9 which defines thehollow portion 40 has a cylindrical shape having a center line or anaxis which extends in the axial direction X. The inner circumferentialsurface 42 includes a first inner circumferential surface 42A whichextends continuously from an outline of the opening 41 in the axialdirection X, a second inner circumferential surface 42B which is smallerin diameter than the first inner circumferential surface 42A, a thirdinner circumferential surface 42C which is smaller in diameter than thesecond inner circumferential surface 42B, and a fourth innercircumferential surface 42D which is smaller in diameter of the thirdinner circumferential surface 42C. The first inner circumferentialsurface 42A to the fourth circumferential surface 42D are each constantin bore diameter over a whole area in the axial direction X. The fourthinner circumferential surface 42D at the first end portion 14 side andthe inner circumferential surface at the second end portion 15 side maycontinue to each other.

The inner circumferential surface 42, which is configured in the waydescribed above, is reduced in bore diameter step by step as the innercircumferential surface 42 moves away from the opening 41 in the axialdirection X in the order of the first inner circumferential surface 42A,the second inner circumferential surface 42B, the third innercircumferential surface 42C and the fourth inner circumferential surface42D. An annular step portion 43 is formed on a boundary between thefirst inner circumferential surface 42A and the second innercircumferential surface 42B. An annular step portion 44 is formed on aboundary between the second inner circumferential surface 42B and thethird inner circumferential surface 42C. An annular step portion 45 isformed on a boundary between the third inner circumferential surface 42Cand the fourth inner circumferential surface 42D. A cutout 46 is formedon one location on a circumference of the step portion 44 so as to cutout continuously the third inner circumferential surface 42C and thestep portion 44. A recess portion 47 is formed at a halfway portion onthe fourth inner circumferential surface 42D in the axial direction X,and the pinion shaft 7 is accommodated in this recess portion 47.

The rack shaft 8 is substantially the cylinder which extends in theaxial direction X, as has been described above. The rack shaft 8 isaccommodated in the hollow portion 40 so as to be concentric with thehollow portion 40 of the housing 9. Because of this, the circumferentialdirection Y of the outer circumferential surface 8A of the rack shaft 8coincides with a circumferential direction of the inner circumferentialsurface 42 of the housing 9. The rack shaft 8 is longer than the housing9 in the axial direction X. Because of this, one end portion (a left endportion in FIG. 3) of the rack shaft 8 projects to the outside of thehousing 9 from the opening 41 at the first end portion 14 and anotherend portion of the rack shaft 8 projects to the outside of the housing 9from the opening 41 at the second end portion 15 (refer to FIGS. 1 and2).

On the rack shaft 8, the first area 81 where the rack teeth 12 areformed constitutes an area which sinks towards an axis J from the outercircumferential surface 8A of the rack shaft 8 along the axial directionX. A flat surface 51 is formed on the first area 81 as a bottom surfaceso as to extend along the axial direction X. The flat surface 51 has asubstantially rectangular shape which is elongated in the axialdirection X (refer to FIG. 4). A plurality of grooves 52 are formed soas to be aligned in the axial direction X, and the grooves 52 extend soas to intersect the axial direction X on the flat surface 51. Aprojecting portion held by the adjacent grooves 52 constitutes a racktooth 12. The flat surface 51 is formed through milling, for example. Inmilling, a tool (not shown) such as an end mill moves relative to therack shaft 8 in the axial direction X. As this occurs, an end face 53 isformed as a trace of the tool used at each end portion 81C of the firstarea 81 in the axial direction X so as to rise from an end edge of theflat surface 51 towards the arc-shaped outer circumferential surface 8Aof the other portion of the rack shaft 8 than the first area 81.

Referring to FIG. 5 in which a portion surrounded by a circle of analternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3 is enlarged, the end face53 intersects the flat surface 51 at almost right angles so as to beinclined at a slight inclined or tilt angle α (here, about 15°) withrespect to a normal direction to the flat surface 51. Assuming that anarea which lies adjacent to the end portion 81C of the first area 81along the axial direction X on the arc-shaped outer circumferentialsurface 8A of the rack shaft 8 which excludes the outer circumferentialsurface corresponding to the first area 81 is referred to as a “secondarea 82,” a chamfered portion 54 is provided at a corner portion K whichdefines a boundary between the end portion 81C (to be more specific, theend face 53) and the second area 82 so as to chamfer the corner portionK. The chamfered portion 54 is an inclined surface which is inclined ata slight inclined or tilt angle β with respect to an imaginary line Lwhich extends along the outer circumferential surface 8A of the secondarea 82 in the axial direction X and is provided to extend between theouter circumferential surface 8A of the second area 82 and the end face53 of the first area 81. When seen in a direction which is at rightangles to the axial direction X (a radial direction of the rack shaft8), the chambered portion 54 is formed into a semicircular shape whichexpands in a direction in which it moves away from the first area 81(refer to FIG. 4). In this embodiment, the chamfered portion 54 has aflat planar shape so as to C chamfer the corner portion K as a matter ofconvenience of milling. However, in place of this, the chamfered portionmay have a curved surface shape which R chamfers the corner portion K.In either of the cases, the chamfered portion 54 should connect smoothlythe outer circumferential surface 8A of the second area 82 and the endface 53 of the first area 81 so as to round the corner portion K.

Returning to FIG. 3, the rack bush 10 includes a bush main body 60 and aplurality of (here, two) elastic rings 61 (also refer to FIG. 4).

The bush main body 60 is a hollow cylinder of resin, and a hollowportion is opened at both ends in the axial direction. As shown in FIG.3, with the rack bush 10 built in the steering system 1, an axialdirection of the bush main body 60 coincides with the axial direction Xdescribed above, and a circumferential direction of the bush main body60 coincides with the circumferential direction Y described above. Inthe following description, the bush main body 60 and the elastic rings61 will be described by the use of the axial direction X and thecircumferential direction Y.

A bore diameter of the bush main body 60 is slightly larger than anoutside diameter of the rack shaft 8, and an outside diameter of thebush main body 60 is almost equal to a bore diameter of the thirdcircumferential surface 42C of the inner circumferential surface 42 ofthe housing 9.

On the outer circumferential surface 60A of the bush main body 60, thesame number of (here, two) fitting grooves 62 as the number of elasticrings 61 are formed to be aligned in the axial direction X with a spacedefined therebetween. Each fitting groove 62 is formed so as to extendalong the whole area of the outer circumferential surface 60A of thebush main body 60 in the circumferential direction Y and constitutes anannular shape which extends in the circumferential direction Y.

A positioning projection 63 is provided integrally at onecircumferential location of one end of the bush main body 60 in theaxial direction X so as to project radially outwards of the bush mainbody 60.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 4. In FIG. 6,a cross section of the rack shaft 8 is shown, while a side view of thebush main body 60 is shown which is seen from a side in the axialdirection X. Also, in FIG. 6, illustration of the elastic rings isomitted. Referring to FIG. 6, a projecting portion 64 is providedintegrally on an inner circumferential surface 60B of the bush main body60 (which is also an inner circumferential surface of the rack bush 10)so as to project towards an axis G of the bush main body 60 which passesthrough a circular center thereof. A plurality of (here, five)projecting portions 64 are provided to be aligned at intervals in thecircumferential direction Y.

In the five projecting portions 64, one projecting portion 64 is a teethside support portion 64A, and the remaining four projecting portion 64are back side support portions 64B. In defining an imaginary plane Hwhich passes through a center of the teeth side support portion 64 inthe circumferential direction Y and the axis G to extend in the axialdirection X, the four back side support portions 64B are disposed sothat two back side support portions 64B are disposed on each of sides ofthe imaginary plane H which are symmetrical with each other across theimaginary plane H. A sinking curved surface 65 which sinks so as to beseparated away from the axis G is formed on each of the teeth sidesupport portion 64A and the back side support portions 64B. A curvatureof the sinking curved surface 65 is almost the same as a curvature ofthe arc-shaped outer circumferential surface 8A of the rack shaft 8which excludes the first area 81.

A relief portion 66 is formed on the inner circumferential surface 60Bof the bush main body 60 to be situated each between the teeth sidesupport portion 64A and the back side support portions 64B which areprovided on both sides of the teeth side support portion 64A in such away as to sink so as to be separated away from the axis G. One reliefportion 66 is situated on each side of the teeth side support portion64A in the circumferential direction Y and is formed into a groove whichcuts out the inner circumferential surface 60B of the bush main body 60along the axial direction X.

Referring to FIG. 3, the elastic ring 61 is a ring made of elasticmaterial such as rubber. For example, an 0 ring can be used as theelastic ring 61. A section of the elastic ring 61 which is taken along aplane which is at right angles to the circumferential direction of theelastic ring 61 is, for example, a circular shape. The elastic rings 61are fitted in the fitting grooves 62 of the bush main body 60 with onefor each groove.

The rack bush 10 is accommodated in the hollow portion 40 of the housing9, and the outer circumferential surface 60A of the bush main body 60 isin surface contact with the third inner circumferential surface 42C ofthe housing 9. The elastic rings 61 are compressed by the third innercircumferential surface 42C to be deformed. The positioning projection63 of the bush main body 60 fits in the cutout 46 of the step portion 44on the inner circumferential surface 42 of the housing 9, whereby therack bush 10 is positioned with respect to the housing 9 in thecircumferential direction Y.

An annular plug 70 is press fitted in the second inner circumferentialsurface 42B of the housing 9. Alternatively, threads (not shown) areformed on an outer circumferential surface of the plug 70 and the innercircumferential surface 42B so that the plug 70 is screwed into thesecond inner circumferential surface 42B. The rack bush 10 is held bythe plug 70 and the step portion 45 in the axial direction X, wherebythe rack bush 10 is positioned with respect to the housing 9 in theaxial direction X. The plug 70 is fitted on the rack shaft 8 in anon-contact fashion.

In the description made heretofore, the rack bush 10 at the first endportion 14 of the housing 9 has been described. However, the other rackbushes 10 which are positioned at the other portions than the first endportion 14 (refer to FIGS. 1, 2) are also positioned with respect to theinner circumferential surface 42 of the housing 9 both in the axialdirection X and the circumferential direction Y.

In each rack bush 10, the inner circumferential surface 60B of the bushmain body 60 fits on the outer circumferential surface 8A of the rackshaft 8. The rack bush 10 which is fitted on the rack shaft 8 in such astate is located in the same position as the second area 82 near thecorner portion K on the boundary between the first area 81 and thesecond area 82 (the second area 82 which is positioned near the opening41 in FIG. 3) in the axial direction X. Additionally, the axis J of therack shaft 8 coincides with the axis G of the bush main body 60. Then,the elastic rings 61 which are compressed as described above support therack shaft 8 elastically via the bush main body 60.

Referring to FIG. 6, on the inner circumferential surface 60B of thebush main body 60, the teeth side support portion 64A is located in thesame position as the first area 81 and the second area 82 on the outercircumferential surface 8A of the rack shaft 8 in the circumferentialdirection Y. The teeth side support portion 64A is in contact (to bemore specific, in surface contact) with the second area 82 at thesinking curved surface 65 thereof, whereby the bush main body 60supports the rack shaft 8 from the side where the rack teeth 12 areformed (the range which coincides with the first area 81 and the secondarea 82 in the circumferential direction Y).

Here, an area on the outer circumferential surface 8A of the rack shaft8 which is situated out of the first area 81 in the circumferentialdirection Y (an area covered by a broken line in FIG. 6) is defined as a“third area 83,” or a “back 8B.” The four back side support portions 64Bare in contact (to be more specific, in surface contact) with the thirdarea 83 at the respective sinking curved surfaces 65 to thereby supportthe rack shaft 8 from the other side than the side where the rack teeth12 are formed, that is, the back 8B side.

In this way, the rack bush 10 supports the rack shaft 8 at the fivelocations thereon, that is, at the teeth side support portion 64A andthe other four back side support portions 64B.

When moving along the axial direction X to turn the road wheels 19, therack shaft 8 slides on the teeth side support portion 64A and the backside support portions 64B of each rack bush 10.

In the steering system 1 configured in the way described heretofore, ashas been described before, on the rack shaft 8, as shown in FIG. 3, thecorner portion K on the boundary between the end portion 81C of thefirst area 81 in the axial direction X and the second area 82 which liesadjacent to the end portion 81C in the axial direction X on the outercircumferential surface 8A is chamfered by the chamfered portion 54 tobe free from a sharpened point and hence is made smooth relatively.Because of this, when the corner portion K slides on the rack bush 10 asthe rack shaft 8 moves, it is possible to restrict the innercircumferential surface of the rack bush 10 (particularly, the teethside support portion 64A) from being cut by the corner portion K. Evenin a severe condition in which the rack shaft 8 slides while beingstrongly pressed against the inner circumferential surface 60B of thebush main body 60 as a result of a stationary steering of the steeringmember 2, the rack bush 10 can be restricted by being cut by the cornerportion K. Consequently, the durability of the rack bush 10 can beimproved.

As shown in FIG. 6, a chamfered portion 72 is provided on a boundarybetween an end face 60C of the bush main body 60 in the axial directionX and the inner circumferential surface 60B of the bush main body 60 soas to chamfer a corner portion on the boundary. By the chamfered portion72, the rack shaft 8 can move smoothly without being caught by the rackbush 10, and therefore, the cutting of the rack bush 10 by the cornerportion K of the rack shaft 8 can be restricted further.

The rack bush 10 can restrict the rack shaft 8 from moving to the back8B side by the back side support portions 64B, and therefore, it ispossible to restrict the generation of a striking sound on the back 8Bside which would otherwise be produced as a result of the portion of therack shaft 8 on the back 8B side striking the inner circumferentialsurface 42 of the housing 9.

Further, the rack bush 10 can restrict the rack shaft 8 from moving tothe pinion shaft 7 by the teeth side support portion 64A. Therefore, itis possible to restrict the generation of a striking sound on the sideof the rack shaft 8 where the rack teeth 12 are formed which wouldotherwise be produced as a result of the portion of the rack shaft 8 onthe side where the rack teeth 12 are formed striking the innercircumferential surface 42 of the housing 9 or the pinion teeth 11.

In particular, the teeth side support portion 64A supports the rackshaft 8 from the side where the rack teeth 12 are formed whichconstitutes a range coinciding with the first area 81 in thecircumferential direction Y, and therefore, the rack bush 10 canrestrict the rack shaft 8 from moving to the pinion shaft 7 in anensured fashion. Thus, the generation of a striking sound on the sidewhere the rack teeth 12 are formed can be restricted effectively.

In addition, the relief portions 66 which are provided on both the sidesof the teeth side support portion 64A on the inner circumferentialsurface 60B of the bush main body 60 coincide with both end portions 81Din the circumferential direction Y of the first area 81 in thecircumferential direction Y and sink so as to be separated away fromboth the end portions 81D. Because of this, the inner circumferentialsurface 60B of the bush main body 60 at the relief portions 66 are notin contact with the rack shaft 8 at all times. Consequently, when therack shaft 8 moves in the axial direction X, the rack teeth 12 at boththe end portions 81D of the first area 81 (shoulder portions 8C of therack shaft 8 in a cross section which is at right angles to the axialdirection X) are restricted from interfering with the innercircumferential surface 60B of the rack bush 10, whereby the rack shaft8 can be moved smoothly.

The invention is not limited to the contents of the embodiments and canbe modified variously without departing from the scope of claims.

For example, of the end portions 81C at both the sides of the first area81A in the axial direction x, the chamfered portion 54 may be omitted atthe end portion 81C (the right end portion 81C in FIG. 3) which is notbrought in to contact with the rack bush 10.

In addition, while the bush main body 60 of the rack bush 10 has thecylindrical shape which continues in the circumferential direction Y,the bush body 60 may have a C-shaped cross section which is cut in ahalfway position in the circumferential direction Y.

The number and location of the teeth side support portion 64A and theback side support portions 64B can be changed arbitrarily.

According to the present invention, in the rack bush, the teeth sidesupport portion supports the rack shaft from the side where the rackteeth are formed by being brought into contact with the second areawhich lies adjacent to the first area along the axial direction on theouter circumferential surface of the rack shaft where the rack teeth areformed on the first area. In addition, in the rack bush, the back sidesupport portion supports the rack shaft from the back side which is theside other than the side of the rack shaft where the rack teeth areformed by being brought into contact with the third area which lies onthe outer circumferential surface of the rack shaft in the position outof the first area in the circumferential direction around the axis ofthe rack shaft.

Namely, the rack bush can not only restrict the rack shaft from movingto the back side by the back side support portion but also restrict therack shaft from moving to the pinion shaft side by the teeth sidesupport portion. This can restrict the generation of a striking sound onthe side of the rack shaft where the rack teeth are formed which wouldotherwise be produced as a result of the portion of the rack shaft onthe side where the rack teeth are formed striking the pinion teeth ofthe pinion shaft.

According to the present invention, the teeth side support portionsupports the rack shaft from the side of the rack shaft where the rackteeth are formed which constitutes the range which coincides with thefirst area in the circumferential direction, and therefore, the teethside support portion can restrict the rack shaft from moving to thepinion shaft side in an ensured fashion. Because of this, the generationof a striking sound on the side of the rock shaft where rack teeth areformed can be restricted.

According to the present invention, the relief portions which areprovided in the positions which coincide with the end portions of thefirst area in the circumferential direction on the inner circumferentialsurface of the rack bush sink so as to be separated away from the endportions. Because of this, the interference of the rack teeth with theinner circumferential surface of the rack bush at the end portions ofthe first area can be restricted, thereby allowing the rack shaft tomove smoothly.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rack bush, for supporting a rack shaft equippedin a rack-and-pinion steering system so that the rack shaft slides in anaxial direction of the rack shaft, rack teeth being formed in a firstarea of an outer circumferential surface of the rack shaft, the rackbush comprising: a teeth side support portion configured to bring intocontact with a second area of the outer circumferential surface tosupport the rack shaft from a teeth side where the rack teeth areformed, the second area lying adjacent to the first area in the axialdirection, and a back side support portion configured to bring intocontact with a third area of the outer circumferential surface tosupport the rack shaft from a back side which is a side other than theteeth side, the third area lying in a position out of the first area ina circumferential direction around an axis of the rack shaft.
 2. Therack bush according to claim 1, wherein the teeth side of the rack shaftare formed constitutes a range which coincides with the first area inthe circumferential direction.
 3. The rack bush according to claim 1,wherein the rack bush has an inner circumferential surface configured tofit on the outer circumferential surface of the rack shaft, and the rackbush includes relief portions which are provided on the innercircumferential surface in positions which coincide with both endportions of the first area in the circumferential direction and whichsink so as to be separated away from the end portions.
 4. The rack bushaccording to claim 2, wherein the rack bush has an inner circumferentialsurface configured to fit on the outer circumferential surface of therack shaft, and the rack bush includes relief portions which areprovided on the inner circumferential surface in positions whichcoincide with both end portions of the first area in the circumferentialdirection and which sink so as to be separated away from the endportions.
 5. A rack-and-pinion steering system comprising: a pinionshaft having pinion teeth; a rack shaft formed with rack teeth whichmesh with the pinion teeth; and the rack bush according to claim 1.